Where the Rubber Hits the Road

(Another journal entry from the archives.)

It's incredible how hard you have to fight; how brutal you have to be against your own will, your flesh, opinions and feelings.  Retraining the mind and the flesh to follow God - His Word - His Ways... to keep a humble heart even when your enemy is raising up against you.  The urge is strong to counter-attack and play by his rules... to defend self and point out wrongs.

Something so simple is where the rubber hits the road.  You want to express your feelings; you want to defend yourself and give your side of the story.  You want people to know how you've been wrongly accused, misrepresented, mistreated, judged and criticized.

But more than all that you want to be faithful to God and His Word and His Ways.  You are desperate to be different, not like before; not like the flesh entices you to be - all caught up in your feelings and racing thoughts.  It all comes down to that moment in time when you decide... to speak, to react, to defend, to accuse... instead of dying to self, humbling the heart, taking those thoughts captive, and closing the mouth until good things can come out.

That instant in time!  You want to unload on other humans who you feel will understand you and sympathize with you.  Is God not enough for you?  Do you not trust HIM to understand and sympathize and process with you?  He knows the whole truth anyway and He is impartial.  He is the only one who can't be poisoned by your spewing.  And He redirects you, your heart and mind, in the process.  He sets you on the Right Path of repentance and forgiveness and self-control.  Bare your soul to HIM.  Let HIM heal and correct you.

Breathe deep.  Look up at Jesus!  Use HIM as your role model, your guide, your example to follow.  Strive to please Him and honor Him.  Be gentle, patient, long-suffering, merciful, tenderhearted and true.  Let HIM make you and your circumstances new and glorious and Christ-honoring.

Teach me and help me, Lord... to keep my house - my heart and my mind and my mouth - clean, so that I can be useful to you.

Psalm 27:8 (AMP)

⁸ You have said, Seek My face [inquire for and require My presence as your vital need]. My heart says to You, Your face (Your presence), Lord, will I seek, inquire for, and require [of necessity and on the authority of Your Word].

Romans 13:14 (AMP)

¹⁴ But clothe yourself with the Lord Jesus Christ (the Messiah), and make no provision for [indulging] the flesh [put a stop to thinking about the evil cravings of your physical nature] to [gratify its] desires (lusts).

Colossians 3:12 (AMP)

¹² Clothe yourselves therefore, as God’s own chosen ones (His own picked representatives), [who are] purified and holy and well-beloved [by God Himself, by putting on behavior marked by] tenderhearted pity and mercy, kind feeling, a lowly opinion of yourselves, gentle ways, [and] patience [which is tireless and long-suffering, and has the power to endure whatever comes, with good temper].